Chateauneuf-du-Pape

The village takes its name from the summer palace of Avignon popes, but neither the scant ruins of the fourteenth-century château nor medieval streets around place du Portail - the hub of the village - give Châteauneuf its special appeal. Rather it's the wines produced by the local vineyards, warmed at night by the large pebbles that cover the ground and soak up the sun's heat during the day, that are its real attraction. The rich ruby red is one of France's most renowned, but the white, too, is exquisite. The appellation Châteauneuf-du-Pape does not come cheap, nor is there a center where you can taste a good selection from the scores of domaines . The casual Cave Père-Anselme has a Musée des Outils de Vigneron, plus free tastings of its wines. Otherwise, the tourist office or the Fédération des Syndicats de Producteurs can provide a complete list of producers, or visit an Association de Vignerons, such as Prestige et Tradition, who bottle the wine of ten producers.